‘Timely’ new undergrad program in photonics at University of Central Florida applauded by SPIE

25 March 2013

UCF photo

BELLINGHAM, Washington, USA -- A new undergraduate program approved this week at the University of Central Florida (UCF) will help the U.S. stay competitive in global technology as well as broaden the path for students seeking rewarding careers in the important field of optics and photonics, say leaders of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics.

The curriculum is designed to prepare students for a wide variety of jobs in optics and photonics and to satisfy the requirements of ABET accreditation based on the criterion established by SPIE and IEEE for degrees in the field recently, Saleh said. ABET is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that accredits college and university programs in the disciplines of applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.

"I am personally excited to see this announcement because it serves as another indicator that optical and photonics engineering is finally coming of age as a discipline, providing a distinct program choice and career path for students to follow," said Barry Shoop, professor and head of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. Shoop leads the SPIE/IEEE team to develop ABET program criteria for optical and photonics engineering.

Shoop said that establishment of the new program also is "further evidence of the growth, influence, and importance of optical and photonics engineering as a discipline. This program joins a growing number of optical engineering programs across the country that are attracting some of the best and brightest students to serve the growing needs of industry, government and academia."

"The program will help ensure that the U.S. has a chance to participate at all levels in the coming growth in photonics," said SPIE CEO Eugene Arthurs. "As ABET moves to accredit programs in optics and photonics, UCF, long a leader in technology transfer programs and photonics education, is again showing its innovative drive. This timely new undergraduate program reflects the growing awareness of a vital field that has already changed the world in multiple ways -- the Internet, laser surgery, and 3D imaging, to name a few -- and that will continue to change the world many times over."

Students in the new UCF program will study geometrical optics, physical optics, optical materials, and photonics devices and systems, striking a balance between general engineering breadth and basic knowledge and practical skills for solving problems and designing and building working optical systems, Saleh said. Along with core courses, the program will provide hands-on training in laboratories and a capstone senior design project, and participation in a summer internship program with local industry will be encouraged.

As UCF faculty were instrumental in the development of the new ABET program criteria for optical, photonics and similarly named engineering programs, this new program is anticipated to become ABET accredited, which will directly serve the growing need for photonic engineers and further increase the visibility and recognition of optical and photonics engineering as a discipline.

SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based technologies. The Society serves nearly 225,000 constituents from approximately 150 countries, offering conferences, continuing education, books, journals, and a digital library in support of interdisciplinary information exchange, professional networking, and patent precedent. SPIE provided $3.2 million in support of education and outreach programs in 2012.